What's New
Leadership Conversations coming in 2025!
We are excited to announce Leadership Conversations! These voluntary, informal sessions with BPHC senior leaders (Jim, Onyeka, and Tonya) will bring together staff and leaders in small groups (about 20 people) to engage and get to know one another, in person or virtually. We created these opportunities to address feedback you’ve shared — for example, at the Customer Experience (CX) Summit — and we hope they will build morale, foster transparency, and increase staff engagement.
The first session is planned for February 2025. Each leader will host a conversation with a selected staff group such as new employees, team leads, directors, analysts, and more.
Look out for more information and opportunities to participate in Café Macrae, Tonya’s Table, and Onyeka’s Office Hours!
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Learn more about the Draft Health Center Program Scope of Project Policy Manual
We announced in our December 6 bulletin that the draft Health Center Program Scope of Project Policy Manual (PDF) (Scope Policy Manual) is available for public comment through Monday, February 10, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. ET. We developed this document using staff and partner feedback. It consolidates and updates scope of project-related policy into a single document.
FYI: The draft Scope Policy Manual is not in effect until BPHC publishes the final version. During the comment and review period, we will review change in scope (CIS) requests submitted through the Electronic Handbooks (EHBs) consistent with current policy.
If you receive questions from the public (such as from health centers or other partners) on how to submit comments on the policy, or if you have questions, submit via the BPHC Contact Form (Policy> Policy Portal).
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Draft Scope Policy Manual informational and discussion sessions
Join OPPD’s Policy Division for an internal informational session about the draft Scope Policy Manual, including its purpose and goals, notable changes from current policy, and the comment period process. We will share the recording when it becomes available.
Draft Scope Policy Manual Informational Session
Wednesday, Dec. 18
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Join the day of the session
Join by phone: 833-568-8864
Webinar ID: 161 540 8785
Passcode: 86164755
We will also host an internal discussion session about the draft Scope Policy Manual to talk about the topics and changes you want to learn more about. To help guide the discussion, fill out this short survey with the topics you would like us to cover. We will publish more details on this session soon.
Wednesday, January 8
3:00-4:00 p.m. ET
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NEXT TWO WEEKS: Newsletter deadline changes
We moved up the newsletter deadlines for the next two weeks due to the winter holidays. Submissions must be approved by NOON on Thursdays, December 19 and 26. We’ll hold late submissions for subsequent issues. Questions? Email the Digest or Insider mailbox.
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OPPD’s Sara Stepahin discusses her IETA Experience in Brazil
HRSA’s Africans in Diaspora Network hosted a webinar last week on the CDC’s International Experience and Technical Assistance (IETA) Program. OPPD Policy’s Sara Stepahin, who served in the 2023-2024 cohort, was previously featured in the February 15 Insider. Her assignment included three months at the U.S. Embassy in Brasilia, Brazil, with the CDC’s South America Regional Office. The webinar also included presentations by FORHP’s Sarah Ndiang’ui who served in the CDC Kenya office and BHW’s Adanna Agbo who served in CDC’s Malawi office.
Watch the webinar recording and visit the CDC’s IETA Program webpage.
If you have any questions about the IETA Program, contact Sarah Ndiang’ui or Sara Stepahin.
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Recording available: "Navigating the OSV Journey: How to Prepare for a Successful Operational Site Visit"
If you missed OHCPM’s Technical Assistance and Assessments’ October 30 webinar on operational site visits (OSV), watch the recording. An expert consultant and health center panelists shared their OSV-related best practices, including tips for what to expect. Feel free to share this recording with health centers as well.
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CFC updates
In case you missed it, BPHC Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) Coordinator Jasmine Hawkins gave the following updates at Monday’s All-Hands:
- BPHC has collected 36% of their $41,600 goal! You can GIVE HAPPY by visiting the CFC donation page or texting “Donate” to 978-487-5678.
- During Thanksgiving week, for the Turkey Trot, we walked, ran, and rolled 271 miles!
- Last week, the Giving Tuesday CFC Charity Fair and Chili Cook-off event was a success! We had 15 charities attend and provide information about their missions. As for the chili cookoff contest results, the judges selected Crystal Thomas (AHRQ) as their winner. The fan favorite winner was Mary Carson (BHW).
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TODAY (Thursday, December 12), HRSA is holding an Inter-Agency Cozy Corner CFC event to promote mental wellness and the CFC. Take a mindful moment with us in the Atrium from 2:30-3:30 p.m. ET.
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On Tuesday, December 17, we will be holding a CFC Great BPHC Bake-off during the HRSA Holiday Party. Join the competition to show off your baking skills! Sign up by COB TOMORROW, December 13, using the HRSA Holiday Party Dessert sign-up. Look for Jasmine the day of the party to receive your number for the competition.
- Be on the lookout for more information on our upcoming New Year’s Talent Showcase event.
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Giving Tuesday CFC Charity Fair and Chili Cook-off winners
Plain language pop-up shop: Minimize acronyms
Editor's note: The Plain Writing Act of 2010 promotes “clear government communication that the public can understand and use.” The Federal Plain Language Guidelines (PDF) address how we should implement the Act. This occasional Insider series will provide plain language tips. If you missed a previous column, visit the Plain language pop-up shop SharePoint site.
Acronyms are intended to help the reader by shortening long phrases. However, we often use them so much in government writing that the reader may struggle to understand what they mean. If a reader needs to look back to earlier pages or consult an appendix, it can get in the way of understanding.
Use nicknames
One good alternative is to use a simplified name instead of an acronym. This gives readers meaningful content that helps them remember what you’re talking about. It may be a bit longer, but the gain in clarity and ease of reading is worth it. For example, after introducing the term Operational Site Visit, consider using the nickname “site visit” rather than OSV. Instead of using “CM” as an acronym for the Compliance Manual, just call it the manual.
In some cases, you don’t even need to define the nickname the first time you use it, unless you’re using lots of different nicknames.
Use pronouns
We often are very careful in government writing to state our agency name (and acronym) up front: “Thank you for writing to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) about your concerns.” But depending on the type of document, the name and logo of the agency will be listed on the letterhead, or the cover page, or the webpage heading. The reader is unlikely to be confused about which agency is responsible for the message. It’s plainer and sufficient to say: “Thank you for writing to us about your concerns.” (See the Plain Language Pop-up Shop column about using pronouns.)
If you must use an acronym
Sometimes an acronym is unavoidable, or it may be the clearest way to convey information. You should almost always define an acronym the first time you use it, for example, “the Electronic Handbooks (EHBs).” But if everyone knows the acronym, you can sometimes just use it without defining it. Examples include FAQ, AIDS, HHS, CDC, or NIH. Confused about an acronym? Find it in the list of BPHC acronyms.
Try to limit the number of acronyms you use in one document to no more than two or three. Remember that the point of using acronyms or other abbreviations is to make things easier for your reader, not harder.
Interested in learning more?
Sign up for the three-hour “Plain Writing in the Federal Government,” course in the HHS Learning Portal (LMS).
Check out the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services short plain language video on acronyms.
Getting to know Zachary (Zach) Bolzan
Editor’s note: Interested in participating in a “Getting to know” column for the first or second time? Take a look at the questions to see what’s involved and check out our Getting to Know BPHC Staff page.
Meet Zachary (Zach) Bolzan, Public Health Advisor, Technical Assistance and Assessments, OHCPM:
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When did you join the Bureau of Primary Health Care? How does your current role contribute to the Health Center Program mission?
I joined OHCPM in October 2024. I am in the Technical Assistance and Assessments functional area and primarily perform operational site visits to health centers.
Where did you grow up and what do you like best about your hometown?
I grew up in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and am a big University of North Carolina athletics fan. I really enjoyed all the activity that being in a college town had to offer.
What superpower(s) would you like to have and why?
I would love to be able to teleport. I love to travel, and teleporting would simplify the getting to the destination part of the journey. I could explore anything at any time. I could also visit with friends or family easier as well.
If you won the lottery what would you do with your winnings?
If I won the lottery I would take as many trains as possible around the world. I have been on two multiday Amtrak trips going from Chicago to the West Coast and would love to take trains across every continent if it is possible to do so.
Learn more about Zach. Email BPHC Insider to submit your name for a future Getting to Know.
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Where can I find information about developing an Individual Development Plan?
Editor’s note: This new bi-weekly series will answer a question about how you can use the BPHC Information and Resources (BIR) SharePoint site to help you do your work. Consider bookmarking this important site — or even adding it as a default start tab for your browser (see instructions for doing this in Edge on Microsoft’s website).
With the new year approaching, take the opportunity to discuss your professional development goals with your supervisor during your Performance Management Appraisal Program (PMAP) review. You can start by creating an Individual Development Plan (IDP). On the BIR, go to the IDP link in the Quick Links section. You will find everything you need to get started!
Follow these steps to get started:
- Save the IDP template (PDF) and follow the instructions in the document.
- Save the BPHC Career Pipeline (PDF) for recommendations to add to your IDP.
- Discuss your plan with your supervisor and book a 1:1 career development appointment with the BPHC Training Team.
Need more information about training opportunities? Check out the BPHC Training & Staff Development SharePoint site, explore the updated BPHC Training Course Repository for learning options, or connect with the BPHC Training Team for training and development guidance.
Staffing Updates
BPHC job announcements
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Public Health Analyst, GS-685-12 (FPL 13), government-wide, closes TOMORROW, December 13. Duty locations: San Francisco, California; Atlanta, Georgia; Chicago, Illinois; Rockville, Maryland; New York, New York; and Seattle, Washington.
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Supervisory Management and Program Analyst — Deputy Division Director, GS-343-15, HRSA-wide, closes Tuesday, December 17. Duty location: Rockville only.
For other jobs at HRSA, visit USAJOBS.
For other detail opportunities, go to the Detail and Deployment Opportunities SharePoint page.
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